Chelsea look set to complete a move for midfielder Mineiro on a free transfer. The Brazilian will arrive at Stamford Bridge on a free transfer with the task of filling the void left by the injured Michael Essien.

Chelsea had been considering a move for another out-of-contract midfielder - Stephen Appiah - but they have opted to sign Mineiro. The 33-year-old has been without a club since leaving Hertha Berlin at the end of last season.

Arsenal and Birmingham had both shown interest in the player but Mineiro has now opted to move to Luiz Scolari's team.

Heskey could go admits Bruce

Wigan manager Steve Bruce has admitted that he could be forced to cash in on striker Emile Heskey during the January transfer window if a significant offer arrives.

The England international is out of contract at the end of the season and was linked with a £10 million move to Tottenham last month.

Bruce insists there was no formal approach from Spurs before the transfer deadline, but given Heskey could leave for free next summer, the Latics boss accepts he would have to consider any serious offers for the 30-year-old in January.

"If somebody's going to offer us £10 million, for instance, in January, then I've got a decision to make," Bruce said.

"If Heskey is to leave, there's got to be a buyer and it's got to be an offer big enough to take away an England centre-forward in the middle of the season."

Strachan rejects McGeady row

Celtic manager Gordon Strachan has dismissed reports he is at loggerheads with Aiden McGeady.

The Ireland international has been on the bench for the last two games against Motherwell and Aalborg with one report last week claiming the 22-year-old had been singled out after the 4-2 home defeat to Rangers a fortnight ago.

It was claimed that McGeady was excluded from a team debriefing and told to eat lunch on his own.

However, asked if McGeady would be on the bench for the game against Kilmarnock at Rugby Park today, Strachan replied: "Why wouldn't he be? He's been in the last two squads and played in a European tie.

"Any opinion or story expressed outside these gates is of no interest to me."

Maccarone ban reduced

Massimo Maccarone's three-match ban has been reduced to two after a successful appeal by Siena.

The former Middlesbrough striker was handed the suspension after his dismissal in the 1-0 defeat at Atalanta on the opening day of the Serie A. He was sent off for dissent and on his way out he pushed referee Carmine Russo.

However, Siena managed to reduce the ban and Maccarone will now return for next week's match against Sampdoria.

Surgery will help me - Trezeguet

David Trezeguet will be sidelined for four months, but believes knee surgery will prolong his career.

The Juventus striker is to undergo an operation to fix a lingering knee problem and is unlikely to return before the end of the year.

"We thought about the surgery for some time," Trezeguet told L'Equipe. "That was the thing to make me cured.

"Of course, I could have waited a little longer, but I would have taken a risk of suffering a broken patella like Ronaldo experienced.

"I prefer to tell myself that by acting that way I will prolong my football career for five or six more years."

I'd like to sign Ronaldo, says Scolari

Chelsea manager Luiz Felipe Scolari said he would "open the door" for Cristiano Ronaldo to join the London club if he decided to leave Manchester United.

Ahead of today's Premier League clash between the teams, the former Portugal manager was quoted in British newspapers saying he has a father-son relationship with Ronaldo.

"When I was with Portugal, I had to choose three players every year for the World Player of the Year award," he was quoted as saying in yesterday's Daily Mail.

"One year I chose Didier Drogba, another year I wrote John Terry and another year I voted for Frank Lampard.

"Now these three players are with me, it's good for me - maybe next season Cristiano is with me."

Nobody better than me says Mourinho

Jose Mourinho believes there is no coach in the world better than him.

The controversial Portuguese coach, now at the helm of Italian champions Inter, gave these comments in an interview to Gazzetta dello Sport.

"When I arrived in London, all I said was that I am a normal manager in charge of a special group. All of a sudden I became 'The Special One,' but I never defined myself as that," he said.

"I do not think I am the best coach in the world, but I also don't believe there is anyone in the world who is better than me."